Buy Walking VideosQuestion of the Week: Snack Ideas
The question of the week comes from a comment from a reader:
Hi all.
I’m heading into week 4 of the WW plan with the girls from work. So far it’s going well, but I’m finding it hard with the holiday approaching. I’m getting sick of smart pop popcorn, and find myself craving things I never did before. Does anyone know some good snack ideas that are low points for the holidays?
Sally
What do you do when the feeling to snack hits you? Do you choose items that are low in calories so you can eat a lot or do you choose a small serving of a beloved food?
Help Sally out and leave your ideas on the comments here.
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December 4th, 2006 at 7:52 am
When I get hungry for something “snacky”, a couple of options are a handful of almonds, or some veggies with an avocado dip. With the almonds, it is important not to go overboard, as they are high in fat, thus high in calories. But they satisfy my need for something crunchy, and with the high content of good, healthy fats, they keep you fuller longer.
With the veggies, I typically choose carrots and brocolli. The carrots satisfy my crunchy need. The broccoli and carrots are both full of good vitamins and minerals, plus a nice dose of healthy fiber. For the avocado, I just take about an ounce or so of fresh avocado, put it in a little dish, and mash it up. Then I dip my carrots and brocolli in it. The avocado is high in healthy fats as well, which will keep you fuller, longer.
I try to avoid indulging in the craving, as, for me, I typically can’t stop once I start. Also, I usually feel very guilty afterward. It’s important to keep in mind, sometimes we mistake hunger for thirst. You hunger may be your body telling you that you are thirsty, so drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Hope this helps!
December 4th, 2006 at 11:14 am
After following Weight Watchers for losing post-baby weight, I discovered that when I want to snack I really want snacks that fill me up. My choices are carrots or whole sugar snap peas. The sugar snap peas are good as they are sweet and satisfy that type of craving. For salty, I go for a few cashews instead of the popcorn. I got tired of popcorn as well. Red, yellow, or orange pepper slices with or without the dip and a small amount of peanut butter or fat free cream cheese on a celery stalk.
And, then, there are the days that I decide that the points for a piece of candy are worth it.
Lastly, I agree with Jeff on the thirst issue. When I’m hungry the first thing I do is drink some water. You’d be amazed at how your hunger diminishes.
December 4th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
Drink your water…. eat an apple or two (nobody has a weight problem because they ate to much fruit). Try baking apples or banana’s with spices.
carrots
red cabbage
pickles or pickled cabbage
cerely root (make them into mashed potatoes)
chew gum (lots of great flavors out there)
drink something really hot like coffee or tea or something really cold with a lot of ice
lightly steam some broccoli or caloflower. It gives it a softer taste.
Don’t forget that you need protein to fill you up.
December 4th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
Sugar free hot cocoa hits the spot when I’m tired of popcorn. The zero point vegetable soup is a good snack too.
December 4th, 2006 at 4:15 pm
Have your favorite foods in small almonds and count them Eat a lot of free veggies baby carrots and all with homemade dip Do a different low point snack every few weeks? SF jelly belly bears are good Fresh apples Chew lots of SF gum Drink caffeine free diet soda in different flavors
December 4th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
One of my favorite snacks is reduced fat graham crackers with marshmallow fluff. You get 2 sheets or 8 small crackers and 2 tablespoons of fluff for 3 points. It is soooooo good and really soothes the sweet tooth. Make sure to check your labels to get accurate points for the brands that you have.
December 4th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Like Nancy Regan said: “Just say no”! Food is obviously your drug of choice. You are never “hungry” for a snack. dieting is the same as cutting back on smoking–neither of them work. If you can lightly graze thruout the day instead of sitting and chowing down on a meal, you’ll be better off and you’ll eat less. But don’t forget that grazing is no more than a palmful of something of value. Absolutely nothing containing sugar–another drug.
December 5th, 2006 at 2:39 am
I don’t think we should be taking advice on ANYTHING–much less eating advice (have you SEEN her??)–from Nancy Reagan!
Do whatever works for you–but that means a lot of finding out who you are and what you like. From the letter the reader sent, it sounds like popcorn (salty, crunchy) is a favorite snack, so:
Try portioning out pretzels or goldfish into 1-2 pt.-size snacks.
Roast some raw veggies sprinkled with seasoning salt and have them with either salsa (zero points) or bean dip (various points) or dip into FF salad dressing.
Those are just three, but the possibilities are ENDLESS. Be creative with what you call a snack!
For me, a “snack” is two high fiber tortillas (2 for 1 point), a vegan boca burger (1-2 points) split in half (to make two soft tacos), with mustard, lettuce, tomato, and baby carrots or a HUGE salad (no dressing, because I’v lost my taste for salad dressing) on the side. It’s really more of a feast than a snack for VERY low points (2 or 3, depending on how you count). (There is NO WAY that eight or ten almonds could hold me!)
I lost A LOT of weight on WW, but it meant eating up to 20 servings of veggies a day and drinking up to 2 gallons of water and other liquids per day. Your actual mileage may vary! Only you and your body know what’s best for you.
December 5th, 2006 at 8:40 am
Response to Judy:
I admire your will power, but if Sally is anything like me, it’s just not as simple as “saying no.” And completely denying myself a snack when I get the craving is only going to make me have a major set back a few hours or days later. Snacking is just another word for grazing, it doesn’t necessarily have to mean junk food. It’s all in how you approach it.
I try to pack a string cheese and veggies of some kind for a mid-morning snack, and have lately been on a hummus kick to dip my veggies in. For me, it’s finding a mix of flavors and textures that makes me feel the most satisfied with the smallest amounts (and sometimes it is REALLY hard to stop at just a little bit!!)
The important thing is to find some healthy alternatives that make you happy and fill your snack cravings without doing damage to healthy eating habits.
December 5th, 2006 at 1:50 pm
I do like a crunchy, salty snack now and then and I hear you all about popcorn getting old so I found that pretzle sticks are satisfying. Depending on the brand (read the lable)the calories are 100 for 40 or so sticks. Add some carrot sticks and dip them in salsa seems like a lot more for very little calories.